Protecting means for gate and chute of a railway car hopper



June 26, 1956 H. A. WITHALL PROTECTING MEANS FOR GATE AND CHUTE OF A RAILWAY CAR HOPPER 5 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 24, 1953 June 26, 1956 H, A. WITHALL PROTECTING MEANS FOR GATE AND CHUTE OF A RAILWAY CAR HOPPER Filed Feb. 24, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q Q QM QN Q Q mw w INVENTOR. Haw/:9 J ZZ/Mfazfl, MW MM June 26, 1956 H. A. WITHALL PROTECTING MEANS FOR GATE AND CHUTE OF A RAILWAY CAR HOPPER Filed Feb. 24, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 -n| h h|l F l'l uh l l nunl l ll ll HU I HI I I uI -hl l I ZI -P l lfl ll l H H] I l I. II III. I. .l I I l II I III INKENTOR. Harry JZZ/LZ/ZQZZ,

June 26, 1956 H. A. WITHALL PROTECTING MEANS FOR GATE AND CHUTE OF A RAILWAY CAR HOPPER Filed Feb. 24, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 26, 1956 PROTECTING MEANS FOR GATE AND CHUTE OF A RAILWAY CAR HOPPER Filed Feb. 24. 1953 I H. A. WITHALL 2,751 ,861

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 6*) PROTECTING MEANS FOR GATE CHUTE OFv A RAILWAY CAR HDPPER- A- h l Chica 11- si o te p Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois pr c qe ebm 2 95 er a No- 2 20 Claims c1. gs-, -zsz This invention relates, generally, to the construction of railway hopper cars, and it hasparticular relation tothe construction of outlets therefon' it is conventional to provide a frame around a railway car hopper opening and to slidably mount thereon a gate.

for closing the opening. Below the gate is a relatively short discharge chute for directing the lading into a temporary chute which is connected only during unloading. When lading, such as flour and the like, is carried in, covered-type hopper cars, it is desirable that precautions be taken to prevent contamination of the gate and dis-i charge chute by extraneous material. 7

Accordingly, among the objects of this. invention are: To prevent contamination of the underside of the gate the inside of the chute therebelow by extraneous material; to provide a removable closure plate for this purposejtof fasten the closure plate in position by readily operable latching means; and to provide latching means which is simple and eificient in operation and readily and economi: caily manufactured, installed, and operated.

Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

This invention is disclosed in the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, and it comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be. examplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of this invention, reference can be had to the following detailed description, talten together with the ac.- companying drawings, in which I Figure l is a sectional view taken generally along the line 11 of Figure 2 and showing a portion of a typical hopper and outlet construction withwhich the present invention is incorporated;

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view taken generally along the line 22 of Figure 1 and showing in further detail the present invention and particularly the locking mechanism therefor;

Figure 3 is a view, in side elevation, of the lower por tion of the hopper with the closure plate of the present invention in operative position;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view talgen generally along the line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken generally along the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view, similar to, Figure 4, taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 7 and showing another embodiment of the locking mechanism;

Figure 7 is a view in end elevation of the lower portion of the hopper in which the construction shown in Figure 6 is embodied;

Figure 8 is a detail sectional viewtaken generally along the line 8-8 of Figure 6; i

Figure 9. is a view, similar to Figure 4, showing another ice 2 embodiment of the locking mechanism, this View being taken generally along the line 9-9 of Figure 10; if

Figure 10 is a View in end elevation of the lower portionof the hopper in which the locking mechanism shown in Figure 9 is incorporated; and Y i i Figure 11 is a detail sectional view taken generally along the line 111 1 of Figure 9 i Referring now particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, it, be observed that the reference character ltljdesign'ates, generally, hopper of a conventional type railway hopper car wh ich may be employed for transporting various types of lading, such as flour and the like; The hopper it is formed by inner and outer side walls 11 and 12 and end walls 13 and 14 It will he observed that the inner side wall 1 1 extends generallyjvertically and that the walls 12, 13, 14 are inclined for directing the flow of' lading to a hopper opening 15 which is gen? erally rectangular in shape and is defined by these wall Surrounding the hopper opening 15 is an outlet frame that is indicated, generally, at 16 The outlet frame 16 may be constructed asshown' in Zimmer application Serial No. 241,761 filed August 14, 1951, and assigned to; the assignee of this application. However, it will be understood that other outlet frames canbe employed withi out departingfrom the spirit ands'cope of this invention,

The outlet frame 16' comprises inner and outer sides 17 and 18 and ends; 19 and 26. It will; be noted that the sides and ends 17, 18, 19, and 2t) overlie the walls 11, 12, 1-3, and 14, respectively. A gate 22 is slidably mounted on ways 23 and 24 and it is arrangedto be moved into and out arm; closed position by rack teeth 25 on the underside and cooperating pinion means 26 carried by a shaft 27 having a square crosssection. -In the particular outlet frame lo'disclosed, provision is made for moving the gate upwardly at the end of the closing stroke so that its upper surface is in close proximity to the discharge opening through the frame 16. For this purpose the forward end of the gate 22 rides up an incline 28 while rack teeth 29' at the rear end of the gate 22 are arranged on an incline so that the final closing movement of the pinion means 26 raises this end of the gate as described. The gate 22 in the opened position is supported by side rails 30 which are carried by support angles 31 that depend from the car superstructure as willbe understood readily.

Below the gate 22 and formed integrally with the outlet frame 16 is a depending chute structure that is shown, generally, at 34. The chute structure 34 is generally rectangular in shape and is provided with sides 35, 36, 37, and 38 which depend from the sides and ends 17, 1 8, 19, and 20 of the frame 16, respectively. As shown in Figure 2 the chute side is provided with a lateral ex tension 39 in which there is a groove 40 that opens inwardly. Likewise the chute side 38 has a lateral extension 41, Figure 1, in which there is a groove 42. The grooves 40 and 42 are provided for receiving the temporary chute which is connected to the chute structure 34 for the purpose of conveying the lading from the hopper 10 to the desired storage bin therefor. In addition'the chute side 37 is provided with a flange 43 and the chute side 36 is provided'with a similar flange 44 to which the temporary chute can be clamped.

As outlined hereinbefore, it is desirable to protect the undersurface of the gate 22 and the inner surface of the depending chute structure 34 from contamination by extraneous material. Such contamination may occur while the gate 22 is closed when the car travels with the chute structure 34 open to the weather. In accordance with this invention, provision is made for preventing this contamination and for this purpose a removable closure plate 45 is provided. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the closure plate 45 is inserted in the grooves'40 and 42 and extends underneath the flanges 43 and 44. A

; 3 gasket 46 is provided between the contacting surfaces, as shown, in order to provide a weather tight construction. Provision is made, as will be described presently, for removablylatching the closure plate 45 in the sealed position shown in Figures 1 and 2. For this purpose latch mechanism, shown generally as 48, is employed. The details of construction of the latch mechanism are shown more clearly in Figures 2, 3, 4, and to which reference now will be had.

It will be observed that the latch mechanism 48 includes keepers 49 and 50 which depend from the undersides of the chute sides 35 and 36. If desired, the keepers 49 and 50 can be formed integrally with these sides 35 and 3 6. i As shown in Figure 3, the keepers are provided with an inclined slot 51 in eachfor receiving an end 52 of a crank arm which is ofiset from a latch bar 53. As shown in Figure 4 two latch bars 53 are employed and each has a cylindrical bearing portion 54 which is both longitudinally slidably and rotatably mounted in bearings 55 which are secured by rivets 56 to the underside of the closure plate 45. Radial flanges 57 formed integrally with the latch bars 53 serve to limit the outward movement of the latch bars through the bearings 55.

The latch bars 53 have connecting bars 58 extending therefrom and secured thereto by rivets 59. As shown in Figure 5, the inner ends 68 of the connecting bars 58 are oflset from each other so that they slide past each other. The ends 60 of the connecting bars 58 are slotted, as indicated at 61, and a rivet 62 extends loosely through the slots 61 so as to insure conjoint rocking movement of the connecting bars 58 and latch bars 53 in a manner to be described.

With a view to withdrawing the ends of the offset crank arms 52 from the keepers 49 and 50 so as to permit removal of the closure plate 45, a cam plate 63 is provided in overlying relation to the ends 60 of the connecting bars 58 on the underside of the closure plate 45. The cam plate 63 is held in position by rivets 64. Extending transversely from the ends 60 of the connecting bars 58 are cams 65 which are held in position by bifurcated brackets 66 and transversely extending rivets 67. The cams 65 interfit with helical grooves 68 in the cam plate 63 so that, when the connecting bars 58 and the latch bars 53 are rocked about their longitudinal axis, the connecting bars 58 are drawn toward each other, thereby withdrawing the ends 52 of the crank arms from the keepers 49 and 50. Since the closure plate 45 then is no longer restrained, it can be removed to permit the discharge of lading through the chute structure 34.

In order to rock the connecting bars 58 and latch bar 53, as described, an operating arm or hasp 71 is secured by a rivet 72 to one of the connecting bars 58. The operating arm or hasp 71 thus constitutes a handle which extends radially from the connecting bars 58 and latch bars 53 and permits rotation thereof about their longitudinal axis in the bearings 55.

It is desirable to lock the operating arm or hasp 71 in the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. For this purpose a staple 73 can be employed, the staple 73 extending from a plate 74 that is secured to the underside of the closure plate by rivets 75. A pin 76 is slidable in depending lugs 77 from the underside of the operating arm or hasp 71 and it is biased by a coil compression spring 78 to enter the staple 73 which projects through an opening 79 in the operating arm or hasp 71 tohold the same in position.

. As described, when it is desired to remove the closure plate 45, the pin 76 is withdrawn and the operating arm or hasp 71 is then swung to rock the connecting bars 58 and latch bars 53 connected thereto through an arc aproaching 180 degrees. This movement is accompanied by an inward movement of the connecting bars 58 and latch bars 53 toward each other so as to withdraw the ends 52 of the crank arms from the keepers 49and 50. .At the same time, these ends 52 are rocked downwardly and out of the inclined slots 51 in the keepers 49 and 50. When the closure plate 45 is to be replaced, it is positioned in the grooves 40 and 42 with the ends 52 of the latch bars 53 fully retracted. When the closure plate 45 is in position, the operating arm or hasp 71 is swung to its initial position as shown in Figure 4. This causes the ends 52 of the crank arms to move outwardly into the keepers 49 and 50 and at the same time the rocking movement thereof causes them to move upwardly in the slots 51 to tighten the closure plate 45 in the sealed position.

In Figures 6, 7, and 8 of the drawings, there is shown,

generally, at 82 another latch mechanism which can be employed for holding the closure plate 45 in the sealed position and-facilitating its removal therefrom. In this embodiment of the invention, the latch mechanism 82 includes latch bars 83 which have crank ends 84 ofiset therefrom that are arranged to cooperate with cam surfaces 85 of keepers 49 and 50. The latch bars 83 are both rockably and longitudinally slidably mounted in bearings 86 which are secured by rivets 86 to the underside of the closure plate 45. In order to move the latch bars, 83 longitudinally the bearings 86 are provided with helical slots 87 with which earns 88 extending radially from the latch bars 83 cooperate so that when they are rocked about their longitudinal axis, they move inwardly or outwardly relative to the bearings 86 depending upon the direction in which they are rocked. Radial flanges 89 cooperate with the bearings 86 to limit the outward movement of the latchbars 83. I

As shown more clearly in Figure 8 of the drawings, the latch bars 83have bifurcated ends 90 which overlie the ends of a connecting bar 91. Rivets 92 extend through the bifurcated ends 90 and through slots 93 in the ends of the connecting bars 91. This construction permits the latch bars 83 to move inwardly and outwardly relative to the connecting bar 91 while at the same time providing for conjoint rotation thereof on rocking movement of the connecting bar 91.

Provision is made for rocking the connecting bar 91 and thereby the latch bars 83 by an operating arm or hasp 94 which is secured by a rivet 95 to the connecting bar 91 as shown more clearly in Figure 6. In order to hold the operating arm or hasp 94 in the position shown in Figure 6, a staple 96 is provided in depending relation to a plate 97 which is secured by rivets 98 to the underside of the closure plate 45. A pin 99 is slidably mounted in lugs 100 which depend from the underside of the operating arm or hasp 94 and a spring 101 acts to bias the pin 99 into locking position through the staple 96. It will be understood that the operating arm or hasp 94 isprovided with an opening 102 which permits it to move upwardly past the staple 96 so as to permit the entrance of the pin 99 therein.

When it is desired to remove the closure plate.45 using the locking mechanism 82, the pin 99 is withdrawn and the operatingarm or hasp 94 is swung downwardly to rock the connecting bar 91. This is accompanied by a rocking movement of the latch bars 83 and also an inward longitudinal movementthereof as a result of the cooperation between the helical slots 87 and the cams 88. The crank ends 84 are Withdrawn from keepers 49 and 50 and also are moved past the cam surface 85 thereof to assist in the detaching the closure plate 45 from the underside of the chute structure 34. The closure plate 45 is reinserted with the crank ends 84 withdrawn. When the closure plate 45 is in operative position in the grooves 40 and 42, theoperating arm or hasp 94 is swung in.

the reverse direction. This causes the latch bars 83 to move outwardly and at the same time to rock so that the crank ends 84 enter the keepers 49 and 50 and cooperate with .the cam surface. 85 to urge the closure plate 45 to the sealed position.

Another latch mechanism is shown, generally, at 104 in Figures 9, 10, and 11 for holding the closure plate 45 in position on the underside of the chute structure 34.

The latch mechanism 104. includes a one-piece latch bar 105 which has crank ends 106 ofiset from cylindrical bearing portions 107 These cylindrical bearing portions 107 are rockably mounted in bearings 108 which are secured by rivets 109 to the underside of the closure plate 45. Radial flanges 110. limit the endwise movement of the latch bar 105 relative to the bearings 108.

As shown in Figure 10, the keepers 49 and 50. have an open side 111 through which the ends 106 of the latch bar 105 can be inserted. The keepers 49 and 50 are provided with cam surfaces 112 which cooperate with the crank ends 106, not only to. urge the closure plate into the sealed position but also, if it should stick, to assist in dislodging it when the crank ends 106 are rocked in the direction indicated by the arrow 113 so as to cooperate with the cam surface 112 inside of the keepers 49- and 50.

For rocking the latch bar 105, the same operating arm or hasp 94 and associated parts, described hereinbefore in connection with Figures 6, 7 and 8, can be used. In operation the pin 99- is withdrawn and the operating arm or hasp 94 is swung so as to rock the latch bar 105 and crank ends 106 in the direction indicated by the arrow 113; The ends 106 move over the cam surfaces 112 of the keepers 49' and and out through the open side 111 thereof to permit removal of the closure plate 45. When the closure plate 45 is to be restored to the sealed position, this sequence of operations is reversed.

Since certain further changes can be made in the foregoing constructions and different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinbefore shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as new is:

1. For combination with a railway car hopper having a discharge opening, a horizontally slidable gate for closing said opening, and a discharge chute beneath said gate for directing the flow of lading from said opening and having a downwardly facing sealing surface; a removable closure plate having a fiat upper surface for cooperating with said sealing surface of said discharge chute for protecting the inner surface of said chute and the under surface of said gate from contamination by extraneous material, a pair of keepers depending from opposite sides of said chute below said closure plate; and latch bar means carried by the underside of said closure plate, cooperating with said keepers, and constituting the only means to latch said closure plate in operative position on said discharge chute and permitting bodily removal thereof from said discharge chute.

2. For combination with a railway car hopper having a discharge opening, a horizontally slidable gate. for closing said opening, and a rectangular discharge chute beneath said gate for directing the flow of lading from said opening and having a downwardly facing sealing surface; a removable rectangular closure plate having a flat upper surface. for cooperating with said sealing surface of said discharge chute for protecting the inner surface of said chute and the under surface of said gate from contamination by extraneous material, a pair of keepers depending from opposite sides of said chute below said closure plate; latch bar means carried by the underside of and projecting beyond the ends of said closure plate, rockably cooperating with said keepers and constituting the only means to latch said closure plate in operative position on said discharge chute and permitting bodily removal thereof from said discharge chute; and a handle extending normal to said latch bar means for rocking the same into and out of engagement with said keepers.

3. For combination with a railway car hopper having a discharge opening, a horizontally slidable gate for closing said opening, and a rectangular discharge chute beneath said gate for directing the flow of lading from said opening, said discharge chute having inwardly opening grooves on two. adjacent sides; a rectangular closure plate for interfitting with said grooves and closing 05 the underside of said discharge chute, and latch means in part carried by said chute and in part carried by said closure plate and constituting the only means for latching the latter in operative position on the former.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein the latch bar means comprises a pair of latch bars endwise slidably and rockably mounted on the underside of the closure plate, and cam means on the closure plate and latch bars cooperate so that on rocking of the latter they are moved endwise into and out of operative relation to the keepers.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein handle means is provided common to the latch bars for rocking them as aforesaid.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5 wherein means are mounted on the underside of the closure plate for locking the handle means in closure latching position.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein a bearing is mounted on the underside of the closure plate near each end in alignment with the keepers, the latch bar means comprises a pair of latch bars each rockably mounted in a bearing and slidable endwise thereof into and out of engagement with the respective keeper, a cam plate is carried by the underside of the closure plate and is common to said latch bars, and cam means on said cam plate and said latch bars cooperate so that on rocking of the latter they are moved endwise into and out of operative relation to said keepers.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein the cam means includes a pair of helical grooves in the cam plate and a cam on each latch bar interfitting with one of said grooves.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein interconnecting means between the latch bars cause conjoint rocking thereof while permitting relative endwise movement, and a handle is connected to one of the latch bars for rocking them as aforesaid.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein a bearing is mounted on the underside of the closure plate near each end in alignment with the keepers, the latch bar means comprises a pair of latch bars each rockably mounted in a bearing and slidable endwise thereof into and out of engagement with the respective keeper, and cam means on each bearing and the respective latch bar cooperate so that on rocking of the latter they are moved endwise into and out of operative relation to the keepers.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein interconnecting means between the latch bars cause conjoint rocking thereof while permitting relative endwise movement, and a handle is connected to said interconnecting means for rocking said latch bars as aforesaid.

12. For combination with a railway car hopper having a discharge opening, a horizontally slidable gate for closing said opening, and a discharge chute beneath said gate for directing the flow of lading from said opening, a closure plate for said discharge chute for protecting the inner surface thereof and the under surface of said gate from contamination by extraneous material, a pair of keepers depending from opposite sides of said chute, a bearing near each end of said closure plate on the underside thereof in alignment with said keepers, a latch bar rockably mounted in said bearings with the ends thereof projecting into operative relation to said keepers, and a handle on said latch bar for rocking the ends thereof into and out of operative relation to said keepers.

13. For combination with a railway car hopper having a discharge opening, a horizontally slidable gate for closing said opening, and a discharge chute beneath said gate for directing the flow of lading from said opening, a closure plate for said discharge chute for protecting the inner surface thereof and the under surface of said gate from contamination by extraneous material, a pair of keepersdepending from opposite sides of said chute, each keeper bei'ng open onone side and having a cam face, a bearing'near each end of said closure plate on the underside thereof in alignment with said keepers, a latch bar rockably mounted in said bearings and having a crank arm at each end insertable through the open side of the respective keeper into the same, and a handle on said latch bar forrocking said crank arms into operative relation with said keepers and against the cam faces thereof to force said closure plate out of its closed position.

14. For combination with a railway car hopper having a discharge opening, a horizontally slidable gate for closing said opening, and a discharge chute beneath said gate for directing the flow of lading from said opening and having a downwardly facing sealing surface; a removable closure plate having a flat upper surface for cooperating with said sealingsurface of said discharge chute for protecting the inner surface thereof and the under surface of said gate from contamination by extraneous material, a pair of keepers depending from opposite sides of said chute below said closure plate, and latch bar means cooperating eccentrically with said keepers and said closure plate on the underside thereof for cumming said closure plate into sealing engagement with said chute and constituting the only means for latching said closure plate in the closed position.

15. For combination with a railway car hopper having a discharge opening, a horizontally slidable gate for closing said opening, and a rectangular discharge chute beneath said gate for directing the flow of lading from said opening and having a downwardly facing sealing surface; a removable rectangular closure plate having a flat upper surface for cooperating with said sealing surface of said discharge chute for protecting the inner surface thereof and the under surface of said gate from contamination by extraneous material, a pair of keepers depending from opposite sides of said chute below said closure plate, latch bar means projecting beyond the ends of said'closure plate and cooperating eccentrically with said keepers and said closure plate on the underside thereof for camming said closure plate into sealing engagement with said chute and constituting the only means for latching said closure plate in the closed position, and a handle extending from said latch bar means for rocking the same into and out of locking position with respect to said keepers and closure plate.

16, For combination with a railway car hopper having a discharge opening, a horizontally slidable gate for closing said opening, and a rectangular discharge chute beneath said gate for directing the flow of lading from said opening and having a downwardly facing sealing surface; a removable rectangular closure plate having a fiat upper surface for cooperating with said sealing surface of said discharge chute for protecting the inner surface thereof and the under surface of said gate from contamination by extraneous material, a pair of keepers depending from opposite sides of said chute below said closure plate and a latch bar rockably mounted at its ends in said keepers and cooperating eccentrically therewith and with said closure plate on the underside thereof for camming said closure plate into sealing engagement with said chute and constituting the only means for latching said closure plate in the closed position.

' 17.1 For combination with a' railway car hopper having a discharge opening, a horizontally slidable'gate for.

closing said opening, and a rectangular discharge chute with said closure plate. and said keepers to cam the former into sealing engagement with the underside of said chute and constituting the only means latching said closure plate in the closed position.

18. For combination with a railway car hopper having a discharge opening, a horizontally slidable gate for closing said opening, and a rectangular discharge chute beneath said gate for directing the flow of lading from said opening, said discharge chute having inwardly opening grooves on two adjacent sides, a rectangular closure plate interfitting with said grooves and closing ofl the underside of said discharge chute, and latch means cooperating with said closure plate'and said chute for latching the further to the latter in said grooves.

19. For combination with a railway car hopper having a discharge opening, a horizontally slidable gate for closing said opening, and a rectangular discharge chute beneath said gate for directing the flow of lading from said opening, said discharge chute having inwardly opening grooves on two adjacent sides, a rectangular closure plate interfitting with said grooves and closing ed the underside of said discharge chute, and latch means reacting between said closure plate and said chute for urging the former into sealing engagement with the latter with a clamp action and holding it in latched position in said grooves.

20. In a load containing hopper having a discharge opening through which lading can flow by gravity, a sliding gate for contacting said lading and closing said opening, a frame around said dischargeopening and slidably supporting said gate and providing therewith a lading tight closure for said discharge opening, and an auxiliary gate slidably mounted on said frame underneath said gate to slide parallel thereto and when closed protecting the underside of said gate from contamination by extraneous material.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

